If you wish to submit both a physical sample and
digital images of the problem, the site, or pattern of injury,
please be sure to NOTE in the Additional Information area
on BOTH the physical form and the digital form that you have submitted
both physical and digital images so that you will not be charged
twice for the same sample.

Incomplete information or poorly selected specimens
may result in an inaccurate diagnosis or inappropriate control
recommendations. Badly damaged specimens are often unidentifiable
and additional sample requests can cause delays.

Herbaceous Plants: for general
decline/dying of plants, send whole plants,
showing early symptoms, with roots and adjacent
soil intact. Dig up plant carefully. Send
several plants. Bundle plants together and wrap roots in a
plastic bag. Wrap the entire bundle of plants in newspaper
and place in a crush-proof container for shipment. Do
not add water.

Tree Wilts: collect
branches 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter from branches
which are actively wilting but not totally
dead. Wrap in plastic to retain moisture. Collect
a handful of feeder roots and place in a plastic
bag.

Leaves/Branches/Fleshy Parts: when
localized infections such as cankers, leaf spots
and rots are involved, send specimens representing
early and moderate stages of disease. For cankers
include healthy portions from above and below diseased
area. Press leaves flat between heavy paper or
cardboard. Wrap fleshy parts in dry paper.

Turf: samples should
be at least 4"x4" and include both the
diseased and healthy portions of grass on the same
sample piece. Place the sample on a disposable
plate and wrap in newspaper for shipment.

Submitting Plant Specimens
for Identification

Include a 6-10 inch sample of the terminal (tip)
portion of the stem with side buds, leaves and flowers in identifiable
condition.

Place the sample flat between a layer or two
of dry newspaper, paper toweling or similar
absorbent material. Try to prevent excessive folding of the
leaves and place flowers so that you are looking into the center
of the flower.

Pack the wrapped bundle in plastic, preferably
with a piece of cardboard to keep the sample flat.

NEVER PLACE ANY FRESH PLANT SAMPLE DIRECTLY
IN PLASTIC!

NEVER ADD WATER TO THE SAMPLE.

Shake excess water from aquatic weed
samples and place in plastic bag.

Wrap whole, uncut fruit specimens in paper, place
in a strong box, and pack with additional paper to prevent
crushing.

Package in sturdy crush-proof container and pack
with additional paper to prevent shifting.

Submitting Insect
Specimens

Care should be taken to package insects so that they
arrive unbroken. Be sure to separate and label the insects if two
or more are included in the same package and provide appropriate
information on each.

Tiny and/or Soft-bodied Specimens: such
as aphids, mites, thrips, caterpillars, grubs, and spiders
should be submitted in a small leakproof bottle or vial of
70 percent alcohol. Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol is suitable
and readily available. Do not submit insects in water, formaldehyde
or without alcohol as they will readily ferment and decompose.
*Grubs and caterpillars must be prepared before preservation to prevent discoloration.Drop them into gently boiling water for about 30 seconds (never microwave them!) before placing in vials of rubbing alcohol

Hard-bodied Specimens: such
as flies, grasshoppers, cockroaches, wasps, butterflies and
beetles can be submitted dry in a crush-proof container. Do
not tape insects to paper or place them loose in envelopes.

Nematology Laboratory
Department of Entomology
Purdue University
901 W. State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2089

Submitting Greenhouse Samples

Samples in plug trays, as well as unrooted and rooted cuttings, and plants in
pots require extra care when they are packaged for submittal to a diagnostic
lab. Before you mail the next sample, please take a few minutes to review these
suggestions for packaging and submitting samples. This will help preserve the
integrity of the sample during shipment and increasing the likelihood of a
more accurate diagnosis.

Plugs - keep them in the tray

If possible, do not remove the plugs from the plug tray. Submitting either an
entire tray or cutting off a section of the tray helps keep the
soil off the foliage where
most symptoms are observed. Secondary decay often occurs when soil
is allowed to come in contact with the foliage, interfering with
accurate diagnosis. When possible, submit at least 5-10 cells with
plugs. This provides the diagnostician with ample material for
microscopic observation, culturing, and virus testing if necessary.

Cuttings - separate foliage from media with a plastic
bag

The primary concern is to keep the growing media
separate from the foliage. You would be amazed how quickly damp
foliage with
a dusting of growing mix rots once it is sealed in packing material!
Put the cuttings into a plastic bag, sealing the bag with a twist
tie at the soil line. Do not seal the foliage in a plastic bag.
Then wrap the sample in newspaper to prevent additional drying
out of foliage before it is received.

We welcome delivery of samples in person! There are
two short-term metered parking spaces on both sides of our building.
Samples may be dropped off from 8am-5pm in room LSPS 116 in the
two-story brick building (Life Sciences Plant and Soils) located
in-between Lily Hall of Life Sciences and the Life Science Greenhouses.
A completed submission form must accompany all samples. Sample
submission forms can be downloaded here (pdf
file) and filled out ahead of time or are available at the drop
off point.

Shipping
- watch the weekend

Do not mail or ship samples on Friday, as we are
not here to receive them over the weekend. Samples can be sent
via US mail, UPS, FedEx, etc. We encourage you to send samples
with priority or express delivery so we receive them in the best
condition possible to provide you with the most accurate diagnosis.